The surprising find is a fragmentary Japanese short sword.
© dpa
Archaeologists have discovered a Japanese short sword from the 17th century during excavations at Berlin's Molkenmarkt.
In a statement, the State Monuments Office called it a ‘sensational find’. The sword - a so-called wakizashi - was discovered in a former cellar of a residential building filled with war debris.
Archaeologists initially thought it was a military parade weapon, which would have corresponded to the other finds such as stirrups and snaffles, the report continued. These had apparently been hastily disposed of at the end of the Second World War. However, restoration work then revealed that it was a fragmentary Japanese short sword. One side of the handle had been severely damaged by heat. Based on its motifs and style, experts were able to date it back to the so-called Edo period between the 17th and 19th centuries.
The blade may even date back to the 16th century and was originally longer, according to the State Monuments Office. According to the information, it is only possible to speculate as to how the sword got to where it was found. It may have been a gift from a mission of Japanese envoys in the 19th century.
The Samurai Museum wants to put the sword, which was once reserved for dignitaries as a class-related weapon, on public display at the Long Night of Museums in Berlin this Saturday. Since excavations began five years ago, archaeologists have recovered around 600,000 artefacts at Molkenmarkt behind the Rotes Rathaus in the centre of Berlin. They are set to continue their work there until the end of 2025, searching for traces of Berlin's history.